Good morning Susan and all.  22 here, cool this morn.  Small snow storm gets here at 2 PM today.

They aren't sure about the one Monday yet, might become a noreaster because of a low coming

up the coast same time the storm gets here from the west.  I did expect a break in the utility bill

when they finally read the meters after 4 months of estimated bills and the warm Winter but it

never came.  I should be grateful I never got a bill for $600 to $1000 that some on our neighborhood

bulletin board got.

We are getting a hugh break Susan.  Saw on the news new cars are $10k more than before the virus. 

Lots of money, much higher payments.  Used almost as bad.  Would enjoy a new vehicle but still paying

for the backhoe which solved a few bad problems we had with our property.  I got an estimate on one of

our excavation projects, $11k to $12k.  Backhoe has already paid for itself and we still have a almost new

machine.  At least was back when 0% interest was common, now I see common is around 4% on special

deals.  When I get a state inspection, the mechanic warns me about things that pass but probably won't

last a year until the next inspection.  So I don't have to come up with $1200 all at once and the shock along

with it.  Wife's car is great though, no big surprises like on my 16 year old Baja.  I had to learn how to make

a good pass on the road, have to shift down 2 gears manually.  Glad we didn't get one of the newer cars

that can't be shifted manually.  Makes for a dangerous pass.  Sounds like you don't put on that many miles

either Susan, tires should last at least until Fall if you rotate, even if you have a state inspection, should pass.

We both have almost the same maintenance this year.  You probably don't drive as aggressively as I do but I

get passed frequently out on the 4 lanes, people going between 80 and 100 mph, where going the speed limit

would be dangerous at times.  Love the quick acceleration of the Monte SS and the bike, glad Spring is almost

here.  Cost me twice as much for gas to take the SS down to the farm though. 

I have to do brakes and tires this year on wife's car with only 21k miles over 3 years.  The tires are close to

$300 each for a company like Cooper and the others. 

The bird feeder has spring loaded bars for the birds to roost on while getting seeds so squirrels will weigh

them down and cut off the seed ports but the squirrels always figure out a way to bypass the springs.

Things got worse during and after the virus Susan.  I've lost relationships with 2 businesses I've dealt with for around

40 years because of their greed, trying to make more in some kind of a movement.  I probably won't do much better

changing but the older companies cheated me already and were trying to do worse.  Leaving bad reviews online so

others won't be cheated.  Very sad, lost some that I considered lifelong friends. 

I'm finishing up the heavy duty antenna mount for the ham radio antenna on the Baja.  Would like to put a radio in

the SS but haven't figured out how I would put an antenna on it.  Not factory paint so a magnetic mount would likely

damage the paint.  To put one on the bike difficult also because not much metal to put on a magnetic mount. 

Enjoy the day all.  It's a great life without smoke. 

Ernie

Brandy's sister Dixie on the left and her friend Charlotte.  Hope to get back there to walk them sometime but wife's parents can't tolerate our wild pups.  These dogs live next door.

Good luck with your cars, Ernie & Susan. Makes be glad I don't have one.

I never heard of Questers, Susan, but it sounds like a good thing. My building has landmark status. It's a bit of a pain to fill out forms when things need to be replaced, but worth it to keep nice buildings from being torn down.

Enjoy the day everyone. 

Hi Ernie,

A light snow falling here now.  I believe either 1-3 or 2-4 expected.  Jim reports that the street and driveway is icy, so it may be a backyard walk for Finn this a.m.  Taking no chances with falling.

Interesting as I rarely keep track of such things.  I stopped for gasoline at a local station connected with Giant Eagle grocery store.  Previously we would get perks for shopping and gas, but they discontinued that about a year ago.  So, I filled up to the tune of approximately $40.00.  Was curious as to when the last time I filled up and sure enough after reviewing my check register, it had been ONE MONTH since fill up.  So, as you can see, I don’t do a lot of driving.  

I will explore the rotor first and wait until Fall for the tires.

Have a good day…it’s TGIF for all.  We will attend our church Fish Fry tonight. $20.00 seems a bit high for a salmon/or perch dinner but we do like to support the parish.

Susan

Dear Paul,

Yes, I am sure you are saving $$$ lots of money by using public transportation.  Parking a car in the city would most likely be problematic.   I have my eye on a Mini Cooper some day down the road….but that will wait for now.  Honda’s seem to be made to go the distance.  I love my CRV and take good care of it.   This will be the first expensive repair that I can remember.

Snowing here now…. Finn will have to make do with a backyard (common) walk this am. No icy streets for me.

Enjoy the week-end.  Would love to see a picture of the front of your building.  My Delft program was well received and all of my wares are safely back home.

Susan

Hi Susan,

Here is one that was online. The top 3 floors have lots of terra cotta, which is dang hard and expensive to replace. Few companies manufacture it anymore. We received permission to use Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC).  I could not tell the difference holding it in my hand. The engineer could, but probably not when it's 200 feet above ground. 

I'm glad the program went well. 

Paul

Good morning Susan, Paul, and all.  Still snowing here from yesterday around noon but usually light.

Think we have 2-3 inches so far.  The storm Sunday night into Wednesday is the one to watch.  Could

turn into a snowy noreaster with a low coming up the coast to join it.  They are the ones we sometimes

get feet of snow and drifting.  At least we can take our time getting out and I don't have to listen to

corrupt managers protecting their friends digging out and harressing people they don't appreciate.  I didn't

have that problem anymore the last 17 years of my career but was a pain earlier and still remember.

I remember drifts we shoveled that were over our heads. 

I still love the freedom of having a car, coming and going as I please.  We pay the expense because we learned

about the freedom as teens and still want it.   Walking miles or trying to get a ride, or sometimes just skipping

events we wanted to go to.  Still remember the day of my driving test.  Hope you get some good rotors Susan,

don't want to be back here any sooner than necessary.  I got the best Auto Zone sells.  If I wasn't going down south

to the farm I would be driving about the same as you Susan.  Takes more than half a tank to go down and back.  Last

time had to fill up to go, then filled up when I returned, then had to run right back down for defective frig, now I'm

down to a quarter of a tank again.  Would have been much more expensive to drive the SS with it's 383 cubic inch

stroker engine but lots of fun.  Has a lock up torque converter for overdrive so 2200 rpm on the highway but still

low miles per gallon and needs premium fuel. 

I was about to return to church and got an email they just had two people with the virus quite a while back.  I'm not

afraid of the virus but no use pushing it.  I don't want the flu either. 

Paul, the building looks fantastic.  Can see why they want to preserve them.  Don't know if I've ever seen anything

like it.  The tour I got of the city was at night when we went to some classes just over the border in NJ. 

Finished the heavy duty antenna mount for the Baja but still have to install it on the vehicle when we get some nicer

weather.  Have many projects to move onto.  Might try to shovel up the little snow we got so it doesn't add to the next

storm. 

Don't think I will jog with the dogs this morn.  Lots of salt and chemical spray on the roads and my knee hurts from tripping

couple mornings ago.  Probably use the elliptical this morning.  I wash off the dogs feet when we get back from salty roads.

Enjoy the day all.

Ernie

Granddaughter years ago.

Raining in NYC, I'm sure we're done with snow. Only had a light snow once this season. Headed to Red Cross at this ungodly hour. 

Enjoy the day, everyone.

Paul

Hi Paul,

That is a very impressive apartment building.  The inserts are quite lovely and they enhance the building.  I think I spy a tree at the top of the building??   A most lovely place to reside.

What do you do as a volunteer at the Red Cross?   My daughter, Megan, is enjoying her job working with the immigrant population ~ very hands on and that is what she has chosen to do over over her previous job in the medical sector.

On we go…..smoke free!    Susan

Hi Ernie,

Yes, several people (neighbor and his daughter) and others are coming down with COVID, despite the booster shots.  We are fully boosted.  Guess we wait until we see what the Dr. says next year about additional ones.  Many younger people are opting out of it.

Yes, the spouse drives far more than I do….two cars that take premium gas I believe.  I’m happy to just have my regular gas and fill it up once or twice a month (unusual).  Previously, I drove back home (120 miles) far more than I do now.  It’s been 15 years since we moved up to the Cleveland area and that is hard to believe!

Enjoy the week-end.  I have not heard about snowfall coming.  It’s cold here….   Susan

Good morning Susan, Paul, and all.  17 here and dropping so no run again for dogs and I.  Drew the line

here and if even a slight breeze would be lower.  To bad, stayed back yesterday because of the storm and

tomorrow morn, storm again.  Says it will start around 1 AM Monday morning and goes on until Wednesday

morn. 

Yeah I run premium in the SS and burns it fast but not as bad as some.  450 horsepower is lots to me but

they're building much higher.  Usually run medium grade in the bike.  If very hot out or I hear a spark knock

I change it up to premium. 

Guess we are getting the storms up from the southwest in between Cleveland and NYC.  The front coming up

the coast will be rain in NYC, I think.  I did shovel the driveway yesterday, not enough snow to get the backhoe

out and the gravel isn't frozen, like most of the Winter, so makes a mess of the gravel.  I do have skids on both

sides of the buckets to prevent gouging in the gravel but with it just lose it makes a mess.  When we aren't getting

a low front seems like we are getting lake effect snow on and off.  But don't mind Winter weather that bad and

both our daughters live within 15 miles so we are blessed. 

I don't get on until the next morn Paul so I can't see the hour you are posting.  Impressive volunteering for the Red

Cross.  They helped us some after the tornado wiped us out o=in 83.  Nothing like the people in the more widespread

storms.  They brought us sandwiches while we rebuilt but didn't supply us mobile homes for 9 years like I hear about.

We lived here in two truck campers my relatives had from May until August.  We built a shed to store stuff in out of the

weather and tore it down when we had finished (sorta) rebuilding.  Really rebuilding went on for years because no endless

money supply.  Got 3 loans to rebuild along with some insurance money.  Insurance company tried to give us less naturally.

Didn't expect it back then.  These days I expect people to try to cheat us.  Took months to settle with the insurance company

with the help of the local newspaper.  Red Cross also got us some beds and a couple dressers.  Paid for wife and kids to stay

in a motel for 3 nights.  I had to stay out here lots because nothing was secured so slept in the car.  Sometimes I was down

at the motel studying for college finals.  I just barely made it through Physics, needed more time for that final.  Thieves took

lots of stuff from my brother's abandoned home.  Just recently noticed a new 5-6 foot John Deere mower deck missing.  Was

hung up on a shed wall and was very heavy.  Two strong people might have been able to lift it off the wall and load it into

a truck.

Only did a little work on a ham radio besides shoveling yesterday.  Got the radio set up for power and antenna.  Think it just

needs additional programming, not sure yet. 

So we need to get groceries today in front of the storm.  Will be very busy at Wegmans being Sunday and a storm coming.

Enjoy the day all.

Ernie

Part of the lab I used to work in, messy.